Emerald Fennell's adaptation of Emily Bronte's novel Wuthering Heights has completely divided audiences, much like Saltburn did in 2023. Now, UK viewers can finally watch the steamy drama from the comfort of their homes, as it is now available to stream on HBO Max.
A Polarising Film
Receiving a mixed critical reception, the adaptation stars Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi. The Independent's culture desk was thoroughly divided, with senior lifestyle and culture writer Katie Rosseinsky calling it "flat and empty", while culture editor Jessie Thompson praised its "artistic maximalism", adding, "that's kind of why I loved it." Shot on the Yorkshire moors, the ultra-stylised film features a Charli XCX soundtrack, glossy gothic costuming, and blood-red hues.
Based on the Classic Novel
Based on Emily Bronte's seminal 1874 book, critics have berated the film for downplaying the novel's focus on class and race in favour of the feverish romance between Cathy and Heathcliff. However, love it or loathe it, it remains one of the most talked-about releases this year.
Where to Watch in the UK
Wuthering Heights is famously set in the brutal but beautiful landscape of the Yorkshire Moors. The movie opens with Mr Earnshaw (Martin Clunes) bringing a young, abandoned boy home to Thrushcross Grange. His daughter Cathy names him Heathcliff, and the two develop a volatile but close bond as children. Flash forward to adulthood, and Cathy must decide between her innate and primal love for Heathcliff or the wealth and stability that their new neighbour, Edgar Linton, offers in marriage.
Most will be familiar with the novel's tragic end, but Fennell freshens up the source material with emotional turmoil, steamy scenes, and toxic, violent love. Thanks to Elordi's brooding, handsome Heathcliff, the cinema audience unsurprisingly skewed female. But now even the most reluctant husbands can watch at home.
Subscription Details
To watch Wuthering Heights, you will need an HBO Max standard subscription. The standard with ads tier costs £5.99 per month, but you can also get it ad-free for £9.99 per month. If you are an Amazon Prime customer, you can also subscribe to HBO Max via Prime Channels. This is the most convenient way to subscribe if you already spend a lot of time on Amazon Prime Video. Instead of using multiple apps, you can watch HBO Max alongside your existing Prime content, with a single bill and the same interface.
